Lighthouse drummer Prokop dies
TORONTO — Skip Prokop, the drummer and co-founder of Canadian rock band Lighthouse, has died. He was 74.
Band manager Brenda Hoffert, wife of Lighthouse co-founder Paul Hoffert, said Prokop died on Wednesday in hospital in St. Thomas, Ont. Prokop had a heart condition and had been ill for some time, she said.
Born Ronald Harry Prokop, the Hamilton native had his initial taste of international success with Canadian psychedelic rock band the Paupers in the early 1960s. After the group disbanded, Prokop was an in-demand session musician for heavyweights including Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin and folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
Prokop envisioned the creation of a rock orchestra infused with horns, strings and a rhythm session. He realized his dream through a meeting with jazz pianist and film composer Hoffert, cofounding Lighthouse in 1968. The duo teamed with guitarist Ralph Cole and 10 other musicians from the jazz, rock and classical disciplines.
The band had chart success and was well-known for infectious tracks such as You Girl, One Fine Morning, Pretty Lady and Sunny Days.
Lighthouse won Junos for group of the year in 1974, vocal instrumental group of the year in 1973, and outstanding performance of the year in 1972.
In the early 1970s, the musician and future Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton was a roadie for the band when they performed in Texas.
Prokop left Lighthouse in 1973, a year before the group disbanded, but he remained an industry mainstay, composing music for film, TV and commercials and working as an album producer.
He returned to the Lighthouse fold when the band reunited in 1992 and they continued to hit the road both within Canada and abroad.
“There is an incredible chemistry between all the members of Lighthouse going back to their heyday. They were very close,” Hoffert said. “Almost every weekend we’d get together at either our place or Skip’s place. It was a very family-oriented band.”
Prokop is survived by his wife Tracey, son Jamie, and daughters Shannon and Cassandra.